Мертвые души
Chapter 9
Andhereitmaybesaid(totheladies’credit)thatthewomen’spartydisplayedfarmoremethodandcautionthandiditsrivalfaction,probablybecausethefunctioninlifeofitsmembershadalwaysbeenthatofmanagingandadministeringahousehold.Withtheladies,therefore,matterssoonassumedvividanddefiniteshape;theybecameclearlyandirrefutablymaterialised;theystoodstrippedofalldoubtandotherimpedimenta.Saidsomeoftheladiesinquestion,Chichikovhadlongbeeninlovewiththemaiden,andthepairhadkepttrystbythelightofthemoon,whiletheGovernorwouldhavegivenhisconsent(seeingthatChichikovwasasrichasaJew)butfortheobstaclethatChichikovhaddesertedawifealready(howtheworthydamescametoknowthathewasmarriedremainsamystery),andthesaiddesertedwife,piningwithloveforherfaithlesshusband,hadsenttheGovernoraletterofthemosttouchingkind,sothatChichikov,onperceivingthatthefatherandmotherwouldnevergivetheirconsent,haddecidedtoabductthegirl.Inothercirclesthematterwasstatedinadifferentway.
